Dr Drake
Will be remembered as a great oral surgeon legend in El Cajon. He was a very generous employer. His first love was LINDA and second love his DOGS. What brought him joy and happiness was fishing, He would make us laugh with his dry sense of humor. i will always remember on Friday’s he would serenade us with his opera songs during surgical procedures. He will be missed by many
Frank Pavel says:
A friend who was a fellow Surgeon & Chek . Would take me to lunch & tell me to stop working so hard ! There is more to this world than Oral Sugery! He was right and appreciate his comradere!
Dan Vrable says:
The Great Fishing trips to Isla Socorro and Isla San Benedicto
Tom and Maggie Kinst says:
Jan and I have known each other since 6th thru 12th grade in Elmhurst. IL. and continuied our relationship over the past 67 years. It was Jan that fixed me up with Maggie on a blind date. We just celebrated our 50th Anniversary last year. The best thing that Jan had done for me. Jan and I had many wonderful, exciting and fun fishing trips in various Alaskan, Mexican and Canadian locations. Maggie and I enjoyed our travels with Linda and Jan to many parts of Europe, Russia, Mexico, etc. We sure had so much fun. I will never forget our dinner in Monte Carlo at the famous King Louis X111th restaurant in the posh Hotel de Paris. Jan and I got into a laughing session that brought tears to our eyes. We were almost thrown out. Maggie and I could go on and on about our happy days with Jan and will miss him deeply.
Richard Layton says:
truly a great friend and will be missed
Milo Flaska says:
Jan was a generous and loyal friend who will
always be remembered.
Vi and Richard Gassman says:
Jan helps Vi fish.
Tom & Gwynne Hiser says:
We have lost a good friend and great guy. Rest in peace Jan.
Jim Stewart says:
Aaaahhhh dearest Jan…….. I will most certainly miss you, but NEVER forget you. Definitely One-of-A-Kind!! I will miss our talks and discussions on business, investing, geopolitics and anything else worthy of discussing. I am forever grateful for the time I got to spend working with and along side of you in private practice. I will miss your sense of humor and your fantastic “cackle/laugh” whenever something struck you hysterically funny!! You were most generous to me and I feel tremendously honored to have been able to personally experience the Jan Drake World Tour from the first few rows!!
Bradley and Sarina Smith says:
Last summer our family shared a beautiful evening with Jan and Linda at their home. It was an enchanting evening with delicious food and fun conversation. They welcomed us into their hospitable, entertaining world and it made us feel at home as well. It is a memory we hold dear to our hearts.
Warner Recabaren says:
Sipping beer… talking for hours…. good times…. the worst part was having to leave! Always so enjoyable!
Cathy Mertes says:
Jan performed my oral surgery 40 years ago. I remember his kind and comforting engagement which made me feel secure in his care. Several years ago, Jan and Linda became clients at my veterinary practice for their beloved dogs. It was a gift to care for them and to get to know Jan and Linda personally.
Chris Kleber says:
A friend, a mentor, a man I could always talk to and reflect on Life’s challenges and blessings with. Work hard and play harder until you can’t. Bless you, Jan.
Tom and Maggie says:
Jan and Linda and Tom and Maggie
Our taxi ride on the Isle of Capri, Italy
2000
Tom and Maggie says:
River rafting in Colorado
Tom and Maggie and Tommy and Kerri
With Jan and Scott and Mark
Gene Sugita says:
Hon Peter and Judy McCreath, Hubbards, Nova Scotia, Canada says:
Judy and I met Jan and Linda in a hotel Algeciras, Spain, in 1991. We had drinks that night and it turned out that we were both going on a one day trip to Tangier, Marocco, the next day. I remember that Jan bought this hideous carpet that day, and eventually got it back to El Cahone. But, we became and remained close friends ever since, our having visited them in CA many times, their coming to NS a number of times and also seeing them in Florida, Mexico, St. Kitts, Palm Springs. We live about 5 yards from the Atlantic Ocean. When they would come, Linda, Judy and I had all sorts of ideas of things to do (NS is beautiful and historic); but Jan just wanted to sit on our deck and look at the Ocean – and he did. One time, we all went to beautiful Prince Edward Island where the farms and beaches are spectacular. He approved of that!
Some years ago, Jan rented a house on the sea at Puerto Vallarta, and together with Kent and Kathy, we went for a week. Jan said he just wanted to sit and look at the sea, call up a drink whenever he wanted one. Judy found a maid’s outfit in a store in Halifax. One afternoon, the six of us were sitting looking at the sea and talking; Judy snuck off and put on the maid’s outfit. Soon there after, Jan wanted a drink. I snapped my fingers Judy and Judy came down in the maid’s outfit and served it to Jan. We all laughed, Jan uproariously,
Another time more recently, we were visiting in El Cahone and Judy had a sore tooth. Jan took her to his office, and after consulting, Gene, he took out the tooth. He then told us to come back in a year and he would put in a new one, which he did, and wouldn’t even let me pay the cost of the implant. That was Jan: a real professional 100%, generous to a fault, and always the best possible friend you could have.
Over the last few years, Jan and his two long time buddies, Phil and Kent, met for a week of golf at Kent’s place in Venice, FLA. We have a place in Ft Myers, so the last several years, they invited me to join them for a game. Always a great time, even though Phil usually won. We all regularly ragged Jan for the 4-5 practice swings he took before every shot. I tried, with limited success, to convince him that these extra swings would tire him out for the actual hit. Didn’t matter; he did it his way.
For years, Jan and I exchanged emails regularly at least a couple of times a month. A better friend you couldn’t have; we loved him dearly, miss him and will think of him often. Linda, of course, will always be as dear to us, and we look forward to seeing he as often as the distance between NS and CA can make it possible. Jan, you are now forever at peace! Bless you!
Jennifer (Border) Sullivan says:
Uncle Jan…I will miss you greatly. It’s hard to find the words to explain what you meant to me. Having only known you from a distance the majority of my life – spending time with you in my adult years I will be forever thankful for. I’ll never forget my first trip to San Diego at 18 – it was the experience of a lifetime for a small town Iowa girl (meeting you then for the first time was an experience in and of itself 😉) Then bringing my husband & kids for regular visits to your home over the past 10 years — we all loved you – your loud crazy laugh, your stories, your hospitality, and your insight into the kids & their personalities – you were spot on. Spending a week with you and Aunt Linda in April was a treasure. We had an amazing time – the endless wine, the laughter & some of the best conversations we’d had yet. I never thought they’d be the last. Thank you for all you did for us – for rolling out the red carpet every time – not only giving lavishly of your resources, but of your time and energy. I will always be thankful for you.
Cameron Drake says:
He was my grandpa and the best thing I remembered about him was every time we came to visit he would always be on the couch in his study watching TV
Bob Gillary says:
Jan, I’ll greatly miss you. Your’s was a deep and rare friendship. Thanks for the time we spent together.
Jeff Stonebraker says:
My Uncle Jan. The greatest memory that I have of Uncle Jan was when he took me golfing at his local course. I had a great time- and almost broke 100. He didn’t have to take me- he wanted to. Thanks Uncle Jan. That was a special memory.
Mark Browne says:
I had this conversation every week on Thursday afternoon for 35 years:
“ Dr. Browne, Dr. Drake is one line 1.”
Mark: Dude!
Jan: I’m pissed.
Mark: What’s up?
Jan: Patients are driving me nuts, Linda is being unreasonable, the kids are out of control, the insurance companies are criminal, the staff is beyond belief, the fishing trip is probably canceled, I shouldn’t have had that burrito out of the back of a 56 Chevy crossing the border last Saturday…….on and on down the line.
Mark: So?
Jan: Why is this happening?
Mark: Because you are a terrible boss, a rotten oral surgeon, a terrible father, a poor communicator with professional companies, a poor fisherman, and hunter, and make awful gastronomic choices.
Jan: Ya think?
Mark: Yes.
Jan: I feel terrible, why do I call you?
Mark: I don’t know.
Jan: I’ll see you at dinner tomorrow, we are meeting the Miroues and Hilgers.
Mark: Don’t bring your purse. It makes me uncomfortable.
Jan: It’s not a purse.
Mark: It’s a purse.
Jan: Explicative
click
I miss my friend
Michael and Annelle Miroue says:
Annelle and I can’t place just one memory here…trip to Italy…Innumerable Dinner’s, loud laughter permeating every restaurant in San Diego, Jan giving of his heart to everyone, the little things that made JAN JAN,60 roses on her 60th birthday , drinking Scotch together,
Jan finding two nickels minted the year Annelle was born and mounting them in felt double nickels for Annelle’s 55th birthday, riding up to our home with a rocking chair stuck in the bed of his trunk to give me when I turned 40, visited me 42 consecutive days when I was in the hospital with a severe injury…where do I stop? We love and miss you JAN.
Jim Hilgers says:
Jan always caught the little fish:-)
And allowed me to catch the big fish. He was great to go fishing with, so easy going. There was no getting up early in the morning for us,
that was for rookies. Fish, chill, fish, chill, Scotch…that was our day. Will severely miss you, buddy, on our trip to Kodiak. I will just have to drink your share…Oh, that’s right…and you always brought the Scotch too.
Monster Jan fish…Hee hee.
Me, the real deal. Dinner for months
Mark Drake says:
Some of the greatest memories I have of Pops are the times we spent fishing together. Over the course of many years I was fortunate enough to take trips with him to Canada and Alaska. We caught Salmon, Trout, Pike and many other fish together. We encountered Grizzly Bears, Red Fox, Moose, and tons of other wildlife. We once shared the excitement of watching 2 Grizzly bears fight in a river. For those of us who were there it was one of the most amazing things I think any of us will ever encounter.
Pops would spend countless weeks, even months, planning trips. And every trip we took together is etched in my memory to this day.
Dinners with family and friends were always loud. Whether out and about or at home you would always know he was there because of his crazy laugh. It’s one of the things that you loved about him … and at the same time made you sink a bit lower in your seat in a restaurant!
Pops was always practical. Anyone who knows him well remembers the trash cans in the back of the car. One Christmas we got him trash service as a present. I wasn’t sure if he was happy about it or bothered that it took away the “can in the car” routine for a bit.
I’ve shared just a few of the memories I have of him. There’s so many it’s impossible to describe them all.
I hope you’ll put your memory of him here too for all of us to experience and remember him by.
Dr Drake
Will be remembered as a great oral surgeon legend in El Cajon. He was a very generous employer. His first love was LINDA and second love his DOGS. What brought him joy and happiness was fishing, He would make us laugh with his dry sense of humor. i will always remember on Friday’s he would serenade us with his opera songs during surgical procedures. He will be missed by many
A friend who was a fellow Surgeon & Chek . Would take me to lunch & tell me to stop working so hard ! There is more to this world than Oral Sugery! He was right and appreciate his comradere!
The Great Fishing trips to Isla Socorro and Isla San Benedicto
Jan and I have known each other since 6th thru 12th grade in Elmhurst. IL. and continuied our relationship over the past 67 years. It was Jan that fixed me up with Maggie on a blind date. We just celebrated our 50th Anniversary last year. The best thing that Jan had done for me. Jan and I had many wonderful, exciting and fun fishing trips in various Alaskan, Mexican and Canadian locations. Maggie and I enjoyed our travels with Linda and Jan to many parts of Europe, Russia, Mexico, etc. We sure had so much fun. I will never forget our dinner in Monte Carlo at the famous King Louis X111th restaurant in the posh Hotel de Paris. Jan and I got into a laughing session that brought tears to our eyes. We were almost thrown out. Maggie and I could go on and on about our happy days with Jan and will miss him deeply.
truly a great friend and will be missed
Jan was a generous and loyal friend who will
always be remembered.
Jan helps Vi fish.
We have lost a good friend and great guy. Rest in peace Jan.
Aaaahhhh dearest Jan…….. I will most certainly miss you, but NEVER forget you. Definitely One-of-A-Kind!! I will miss our talks and discussions on business, investing, geopolitics and anything else worthy of discussing. I am forever grateful for the time I got to spend working with and along side of you in private practice. I will miss your sense of humor and your fantastic “cackle/laugh” whenever something struck you hysterically funny!! You were most generous to me and I feel tremendously honored to have been able to personally experience the Jan Drake World Tour from the first few rows!!
Last summer our family shared a beautiful evening with Jan and Linda at their home. It was an enchanting evening with delicious food and fun conversation. They welcomed us into their hospitable, entertaining world and it made us feel at home as well. It is a memory we hold dear to our hearts.
Sipping beer… talking for hours…. good times…. the worst part was having to leave! Always so enjoyable!
Jan performed my oral surgery 40 years ago. I remember his kind and comforting engagement which made me feel secure in his care. Several years ago, Jan and Linda became clients at my veterinary practice for their beloved dogs. It was a gift to care for them and to get to know Jan and Linda personally.
A friend, a mentor, a man I could always talk to and reflect on Life’s challenges and blessings with. Work hard and play harder until you can’t. Bless you, Jan.
Jan and Linda and Tom and Maggie
Our taxi ride on the Isle of Capri, Italy
2000
River rafting in Colorado
Tom and Maggie and Tommy and Kerri
With Jan and Scott and Mark
Judy and I met Jan and Linda in a hotel Algeciras, Spain, in 1991. We had drinks that night and it turned out that we were both going on a one day trip to Tangier, Marocco, the next day. I remember that Jan bought this hideous carpet that day, and eventually got it back to El Cahone. But, we became and remained close friends ever since, our having visited them in CA many times, their coming to NS a number of times and also seeing them in Florida, Mexico, St. Kitts, Palm Springs. We live about 5 yards from the Atlantic Ocean. When they would come, Linda, Judy and I had all sorts of ideas of things to do (NS is beautiful and historic); but Jan just wanted to sit on our deck and look at the Ocean – and he did. One time, we all went to beautiful Prince Edward Island where the farms and beaches are spectacular. He approved of that!
Some years ago, Jan rented a house on the sea at Puerto Vallarta, and together with Kent and Kathy, we went for a week. Jan said he just wanted to sit and look at the sea, call up a drink whenever he wanted one. Judy found a maid’s outfit in a store in Halifax. One afternoon, the six of us were sitting looking at the sea and talking; Judy snuck off and put on the maid’s outfit. Soon there after, Jan wanted a drink. I snapped my fingers Judy and Judy came down in the maid’s outfit and served it to Jan. We all laughed, Jan uproariously,
Another time more recently, we were visiting in El Cahone and Judy had a sore tooth. Jan took her to his office, and after consulting, Gene, he took out the tooth. He then told us to come back in a year and he would put in a new one, which he did, and wouldn’t even let me pay the cost of the implant. That was Jan: a real professional 100%, generous to a fault, and always the best possible friend you could have.
Over the last few years, Jan and his two long time buddies, Phil and Kent, met for a week of golf at Kent’s place in Venice, FLA. We have a place in Ft Myers, so the last several years, they invited me to join them for a game. Always a great time, even though Phil usually won. We all regularly ragged Jan for the 4-5 practice swings he took before every shot. I tried, with limited success, to convince him that these extra swings would tire him out for the actual hit. Didn’t matter; he did it his way.
For years, Jan and I exchanged emails regularly at least a couple of times a month. A better friend you couldn’t have; we loved him dearly, miss him and will think of him often. Linda, of course, will always be as dear to us, and we look forward to seeing he as often as the distance between NS and CA can make it possible. Jan, you are now forever at peace! Bless you!
Uncle Jan…I will miss you greatly. It’s hard to find the words to explain what you meant to me. Having only known you from a distance the majority of my life – spending time with you in my adult years I will be forever thankful for. I’ll never forget my first trip to San Diego at 18 – it was the experience of a lifetime for a small town Iowa girl (meeting you then for the first time was an experience in and of itself 😉) Then bringing my husband & kids for regular visits to your home over the past 10 years — we all loved you – your loud crazy laugh, your stories, your hospitality, and your insight into the kids & their personalities – you were spot on. Spending a week with you and Aunt Linda in April was a treasure. We had an amazing time – the endless wine, the laughter & some of the best conversations we’d had yet. I never thought they’d be the last. Thank you for all you did for us – for rolling out the red carpet every time – not only giving lavishly of your resources, but of your time and energy. I will always be thankful for you.
He was my grandpa and the best thing I remembered about him was every time we came to visit he would always be on the couch in his study watching TV
Jan, I’ll greatly miss you. Your’s was a deep and rare friendship. Thanks for the time we spent together.
My Uncle Jan. The greatest memory that I have of Uncle Jan was when he took me golfing at his local course. I had a great time- and almost broke 100. He didn’t have to take me- he wanted to. Thanks Uncle Jan. That was a special memory.
I had this conversation every week on Thursday afternoon for 35 years:
“ Dr. Browne, Dr. Drake is one line 1.”
Mark: Dude!
Jan: I’m pissed.
Mark: What’s up?
Jan: Patients are driving me nuts, Linda is being unreasonable, the kids are out of control, the insurance companies are criminal, the staff is beyond belief, the fishing trip is probably canceled, I shouldn’t have had that burrito out of the back of a 56 Chevy crossing the border last Saturday…….on and on down the line.
Mark: So?
Jan: Why is this happening?
Mark: Because you are a terrible boss, a rotten oral surgeon, a terrible father, a poor communicator with professional companies, a poor fisherman, and hunter, and make awful gastronomic choices.
Jan: Ya think?
Mark: Yes.
Jan: I feel terrible, why do I call you?
Mark: I don’t know.
Jan: I’ll see you at dinner tomorrow, we are meeting the Miroues and Hilgers.
Mark: Don’t bring your purse. It makes me uncomfortable.
Jan: It’s not a purse.
Mark: It’s a purse.
Jan: Explicative
click
I miss my friend
Annelle and I can’t place just one memory here…trip to Italy…Innumerable Dinner’s, loud laughter permeating every restaurant in San Diego, Jan giving of his heart to everyone, the little things that made JAN JAN,60 roses on her 60th birthday , drinking Scotch together,
Jan finding two nickels minted the year Annelle was born and mounting them in felt double nickels for Annelle’s 55th birthday, riding up to our home with a rocking chair stuck in the bed of his trunk to give me when I turned 40, visited me 42 consecutive days when I was in the hospital with a severe injury…where do I stop? We love and miss you JAN.
Jan always caught the little fish:-)
And allowed me to catch the big fish. He was great to go fishing with, so easy going. There was no getting up early in the morning for us,
that was for rookies. Fish, chill, fish, chill, Scotch…that was our day. Will severely miss you, buddy, on our trip to Kodiak. I will just have to drink your share…Oh, that’s right…and you always brought the Scotch too.
Monster Jan fish…Hee hee.
Me, the real deal. Dinner for months
Some of the greatest memories I have of Pops are the times we spent fishing together. Over the course of many years I was fortunate enough to take trips with him to Canada and Alaska. We caught Salmon, Trout, Pike and many other fish together. We encountered Grizzly Bears, Red Fox, Moose, and tons of other wildlife. We once shared the excitement of watching 2 Grizzly bears fight in a river. For those of us who were there it was one of the most amazing things I think any of us will ever encounter.
Pops would spend countless weeks, even months, planning trips. And every trip we took together is etched in my memory to this day.
Dinners with family and friends were always loud. Whether out and about or at home you would always know he was there because of his crazy laugh. It’s one of the things that you loved about him … and at the same time made you sink a bit lower in your seat in a restaurant!
Pops was always practical. Anyone who knows him well remembers the trash cans in the back of the car. One Christmas we got him trash service as a present. I wasn’t sure if he was happy about it or bothered that it took away the “can in the car” routine for a bit.
I’ve shared just a few of the memories I have of him. There’s so many it’s impossible to describe them all.
I hope you’ll put your memory of him here too for all of us to experience and remember him by.